Statement from Hindus for Human Rights on the Israeli Bombing of Iran and the Risk of Escalation |
Hindus for Human Rights condemns Israel’s bombing of Iran and the needless violence that this action risks. HfHR calls for “immediate de-escalation, an end to all bombing and military action, and a return to diplomacy and international law.”
“War is not security. Bombs do not bring peace. Every airstrike pulls us further away from the safety and dignity that all people deserve. This reckless escalation risks drawing the United States and other global powers deeper into a war that will only bring more suffering and death—especially to the most vulnerable communities already bearing the brunt of violence,” our statement continues. |
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Hindutva in America: A Threat to Equality and Religious Pluralism
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In an event hosted by Rutgers Law School and cosponsored by Hindus for Human Rights; Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund; and the Indian American Muslim Council, HfHR’s very own Pranay Somayajula spoke on the importance of resisting Hindutva in a Hindu voice!
Rutgers recently released a report titled "Hindutva in America: A Threat to Equality and Religious Pluralism issued by the Rutgers Center for Security, Race and Rights,” which recognized HfHR for its advocacy efforts.
Speakers analyzed and conducted further discussions on this report during the event! |
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This past Saturday, we co-hosted Phullan da Pul / Phoolon Ka Pul alongside the Sikh Coalition. Despite the rain and the cloudy skies, the outdoor event was a huge success. The South Queens Women’s March graciously prepared and distributed food packages, while SAKHI for South Asian Women offered resources and support materials. City leaders Orlando Torres (New York City Commission on Human Rights) and Erica Ware (Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes) shared training and insights.
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Stateless, not Voiceless: The Rohingya in India |
Across India, thousands of forgotten Rohingya refugees live undocumented and displaced after fleeing unspeakable violence. In partnership with PAIGAM, Hindus for Human Rights presents the short film, The Rohingya in India: Stateless, Not Voiceless. This film takes us through the legal history and present day challenges that the Rohingya community faces and invites us to reflect on our ideals of pluralism, compassion and equal dignity for all.
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The Unseen Battles of A Woman |
Nivedita Raina, a sociology student and passionate advocate is the author of The Unseen Battles of a Woman, which she created during her Azadi Leadership Fellowship. Hindus for Human Rights “was proud to support this work through our partnership with the Azadi Leadership Program, grounded in our shared belief that the right to move freely, exist safely in public spaces, and live without fear is essential to dignity and justice”.
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Accepting Applications Now! |
HfHR's Annual Student's Art and Essay Contest is Back |
Calling all students to submit to our annual art and essay contest! This year’s theme discusses the history of Indian art and its resistance against oppression from colonization, caste, gender and governmental powers. How do you see this revolutionary spirit alive today? Application is open to all students, so become part of this inspiring history and submit your piece today!
Applications close on August 20th, 2025! |
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Queer Sabha
This Saturday, don’t miss our much anticipated Queer Sabha event in DC! HfHR is proud to be cosponsoring the evening event with DC Sabha and KushDC! The event will be a vibrant celebration of music, queerness and community with a shared dinner and performances by talented artists including Ben Parag! Learn more here!
Pyre
This Saturday, Bhagirathi Films presents the North American debut of the film Pyre, which is a sensitive depiction of love, survival and resistance in the face of caste oppression. Written and directed by Vinod Kapri, the film features debut performances from Padam Singh and Hira Devi. Learn more here!
June Baithak for Liberation
We warmly welcome you to our limited-edition Pride Month Baithak for Liberation this Sunday! This month, we’ll be celebrating the inclusive history of queerness and gender fluidity in Hindu storytelling, art, literature and tradition. Come for the conversation and stay for the community! Learn more here!
Philly Meetup
Join Hindus for Human Rights’ Philadelphia chapter for their next meeting on July 12th! They will be discussing the chapter’s current initiatives and planning upcoming ones! Learn more here!
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HfHR UK Works to Repair Religious Divides in Leicester |
Our UK Director, Rajiv Sinha, continues the fight for Palestine and Progressive Hinduism across the UK -- this time in Leicester. Read his reflection of his impactful, and action-packed, trip here:
"I spent a week in Leicester, the UK’s first 'majority-minority' city. Home to many of South Asian descent, Leicester sadly has seen a rift in Hindu-Muslim relations, betraying the city’s famous reputation for racial and religious harmony.
Riots in 2022 particularly fed into tension between the Muslim and Hindu communities.I spoke at two Palestine demos, one in Leicester, one in Nottingham. Many people were eager to connect with us, saying they had never heard a pro-Palestine, anti-Hindutva message from a Hindu.
Muslim religious and cultural institutions were very keen to meet with us and begin building relationships for a more harmonious Leicester community. I met with MPs, local councillors, activists, academics, religious leaders, local businesses, and countless Leicesterians who kindly showed me their city and gave me their perspective on the Unrest of 2022.
I plan on spending much more time in Leicester; in fact I will visit again at the end of this month.During this next visit I will prioritise outreach to the Hindu community. It was very difficult to connect with Hindus in Leicester due to a chilling effect created by regressive far-right Hindu organisations and figures. It will take time and effort to work through this, but we are committed to doing so."
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Bhu Devi and the Environment |
HfHR Australia and New Zealand was invited to represent the Hindu community at the Merri-bek Council Inter-faith Environment Day Event in Melbourne, where they spoke of the Hindu perspective on sustainability and our relationship with Bhu Devi, or Mother Earth |
HfHR ANZ Shows Out for Palestine
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HfHR Australia and New Zealand attended the rally for Palestine in Melbourne last weekend. They stood in solidarity to demand sanctions on Israel, an end to the genocide, the release of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and a stop to the assault on Iran. |
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A Diaspora at a Crossroads
“It no longer felt like a mystery to me that her speeches could incite a mob of Hindus to demolish a mosque as they did in 1992,” author Ankur Singh reflects on his experience attending the Sadhvi Rithambara event near Chicago in April. Singh also quotes from HfHR’s cofounder Punya Upadhyaya’s press release calling for the temple to cancel the event. |
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| Hindu and Sikh Communities Gather for Phoolon ka Pul
This article by The Indian Eye covers the Phulaa da Pul/Phoolon ka Pul event that we co-sponsored alongside the NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, the Sikh Coalition, the South Queens Women’s March and the NYC Commission on Human Rights! |
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| UN Official Slams India’s Failure to Protect Muslims
At a recent congressional hearing co-sponsored by HfHR called ‘Increased Attacks on Muslims after Pahalgam’, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Professor Nicolas Levrat pointed out that ever since the Pahalgam attack, “incendiary narratives [are] being brought up by the authorities even at the highest level,” against Muslims. |
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| Transnational Repression Briefing
Next Tuesday, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission will hold a briefing about transnational repression and potential policy solutions to combat the issue. Transnational repression constitutes human rights violations that cross borders and they can include crimes such as murder, stalking, abductions and more. The briefing is open to the public, and HfHR’s very own policy director, Ria, will be speaking at it. |
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| Jagmeet Singh Surveillance Case
In this article by Stewart Bell and Mercedes Stephenson, authors describe the violence and surveillance allegedly perpetrated against Sikh leaders in Canada by the Indian government. The article delves into the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the eerie similarities between Nijjar’s case and the surveillance of Jagmeet Singh, another prominent Sikh Canadian man. |
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| Trump Blasts DNI Tulsi Gabbard This week, Trump pushed back angrily against Tulsi Gabbard, his own Director of National Intelligence, for her statement that Iran isn’t actively constructing their own nuclear weapon. “I don’t care what she said — I think they were very close to having one,” he said. |
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Become an HfHR Member Today! |
An HfHR membership gives you access to a community of progressive, change-oriented Hindus, our exclusive WhatsApp community, affinity groups, weekly community calls, merch discounts, local organizing groups, and more. Join today! |
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The HfHR weekly digest serves as your weekly guide to progressive Hindu advocacy. Find things you can do to take action, articles to read, podcast episodes to listen to, and more!
*Note: Readings are curated from a diverse range of sources and do not necessarily represent the views of HfHR.
Let us know what you think of our weekly digest! If you have ideas for news items you want to see included, or suggestions for action items or articles to highlight, let us know via the button below. |
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